Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

We’re big fans of this Swiss running brand On, here at IndyBest. If you’re looking for something that’s able to tackle technical trails, steep climbs, rocky terrain and provide downhill cushioning, then you can’t go too wrong with shoes born and tested in the Swiss Alps.

The Cloudultra, which launched earlier this year, is designed for running ultra distances (it won awards for trail-running innovation straight away). It’s an incredibly versatile trail shoe and offers a high level of grip across both wet and dry surfaces. So, whether you want to conquer some epic mountain ultramarathon or use it for rocky, gravel paths, the two layers of CloudTec Helion superfoam provide comfort and cushioning without losing responsiveness.

Best: For speed

Rating: 8/10

While we love the look of these impressive trail shoes from the North Face, we’re not entirely sure how long the Vectiv Enduris shoes will stay white for. Featuring a carbon plate (which is fairly unusual for a trail shoe), these trainers are designed to tackle dry mountain paths with speed.

When on, you can really feel the “rocker” midsole technology propelling you forward. Supportive and stable, these do come up a little on the smaller size, so we recommend sizing up if you like more space around your toes.

Best: Hybrid trail shoe

Rating: 8/10

Not just for wearing on Wednesdays, these pink Peregrine 11 trail shoes with golden yellow laces from Saucony are easily one of our favourite pairs of trainers. A true all-rounder; the hardwearing 4mm lugs made from tough “Pwrtrac” rubber on the sole mean you can take on the mud, grass, rocks and woodland confidently, while the responsive, cushioned “Pwrrun” midsole means they still feel plush, secure and comfortable. They look great too – and come in a range of colourways, offering both understated options and more out-there looks to suit everyone.

Best: Lightweight option

Rating: 7/10

These shoes are super light. They weigh just 145g (women’s UK 5.5) – so when they arrived in the post, we actually did a double-take at whether these could actually be trainers. The norvan SL 2 is the second iteration of Arc’teryx’s trail shoe – designed for the incredibly technical trails in North Vancouver, so you can expect a high-quality grip no matter the weather.

Light and durable, these simple trail shoes will no doubt be incredibly popular with runners who like to travel often and pack light. In fact, when we first tried these on, we couldn’t work out why there was a hole towards the back of the trainers – we’ve since realised it’s so you can easily clip them to your harness or bag using a carabineer. Very useful.

Best: For rocky ground

Rating: 8/10

In bright, candy-coloured hues, these cushioned, grippy trail shoes from Merrell are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to the norvan SL 2s (£130, Arcteryx.com).

Designed for runners who want a lot of protection, even on the most rugged and rocky of tracks and trails, the Agility Peak 4s pair a slightly thicker mid-sole made from the lightweight FloatPro foam with a new vibram megagrip for traction and grip. With a protective toe cap to keep your toenails safe and a rock plate underfoot to protect you from landing on spiked, jagged edges, it can handle pretty much whatever conditions you throw at it.

Best: Road-to-trail running shoe

Rating: 7/10

For runners who want the best of both worlds, 361°’s newest trainer, the Taroko 2 (which launched this summer) somehow manages the rare feat of being as at home on the road as it is on the trail. Balancing a breathable, soft mesh upper – that’s usually reserved for the road – with shock-absorbing “Qu!kfoam”, tough outsole and a rather unique pull-cord heel design that helps to lock the heel into place, this shoe feels both secure and supportive. The outcome? A rather versatile trainer that delivers across varied terrain.

Best: For ultramarathons

Rating: 8/10

Whether you’re a newcomer to trail-running or an ultramarathon runner, one brand you’ll likely have heard of before is Salomon. Aiming to keep ultra-distance competitors’ feet happy after 100k of trails, the ultra-glide is all about maximising comfort without compromising on grip and forefoot ground protection.

When we pulled these out of the box for testing, the first thing we noticed were the quick laces. They basically allow you to quickly adjust your laces on the move and make sure you never have a loose end – they also make taking them on and off when muddy a dream. These trail shoes offer a much softer feeling than many of Salomon’s trainers, which mean they’ll keep your legs protected over endurance efforts, without losing the responsiveness needed on the trails. Plus they’re also easy to clean.

Best: Cushioned trail running shoe

Rating: 7/10

Using Adidas’s famed boost cushioning, these trail shoes give the same energy return and responsiveness that you’d expect from their Ultraboost trainers for road running, while the Continental soles with shallow lugs help to increase the grip on loose gravel roads.

Adidas teamed up with ultramarathoner Tom Evans when designing these trail shoes – but don’t let that put you off into thinking they’re only for the pros. We think anyone who hits hard, wooded trails on the regular will enjoy wearing these fun-coloured shoes.